Note: This takes place before 'Our Man in Grrfurjiclestan'.

"Got any 9s?" Skipper asked Rico as he looked up from his pile of cards.

"Nope. Go fish!" Rico hid his card with a grin, earning a suspicious look from his leader.

"Ya sure?"

"Yep!"

Skipper groaned and turned to grab a card, but a better idea came into his mind. He snatched Rico's pile with a smirk and a flipper.

"Eyyyyyy!" Rico tried to get them back, but Skipper fought his wings with his free one, his smirk growing bigger by each second.

"Knew you were cheating," Skipper placed both his and Rico's cards on the table, still beaming.

"Guys guys guys! There's a postcard at our doorstep!" Private squealed excitedly from above.

"Postcard?" Skipper hurried up the hatch, along with the other two.

"Kowalski, analysis."

Kowalski picked the postcard up and licked it, "Cardboard. There's writing behind it, too, written in ink made from-"

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go to the chimps!" Skipper rubbed his flippers excitedly. He'd longed for someone to send him and the team a message, and that it would be about them going on a secret mission. He grabbed it and was the first to belly-slide away with Kowalski pouting for not letting him finish his sentence.

"'From Uncle Nigel', it says." Mason translated what Phil signed.

"Ooh! Uncle Nigel sent me that!?" Private clapped his flippers. He'd always adored his uncle, you know, him being his only family by blood and all, but most importantly, he's a secret agent. A really good one!

"Oh... Him. Again..." Kowalski replied indifferently.

"I still can't believe the fact that he's a secret agent... And that he thinks that your nancy-cat-ness is just part of your 'secret identity'." Skipper used air-quotes with a roll of his eyes.

"Ooh!" Rico applauded. "Kaboom boom!"

"I don't think there's an evil lair waiting to be blown up this time..." Private smiled to Rico, who frowned sadly.

"It says, 'Private's Uncle Nigel requires him to go to the Grand Central Terminal asap because of urgent private business.'" Mason continued.

"Good! We'll go as soon as we finish packing our-"

"Alone."

"A-Alone?" Skipper asked as he cocked his head. "Why?"

"It's private business, did you not see that?!" The chimp pointed to a series of words.

"Wow. He's good!" Kowalski gasped in awe as Skipper groaned.

"I-I guess I should be going now..." Private rubbed his head in a bashful sort of manner.

"Yeah yeah yeah! Oou go doo dat!" Rico nodded frantically as Skipper sighed disappointedly. No missions for him and a day without Private's cheeriness.

"Right! See you! And thank you, Mason and Phil!" Private dashed out of the Zoo.

"Come on boys, let's follow the private," Skipper decided. There's nothing special today anyway, why not do something exciting?

"Skipper, are you sure that he wouldn't mind? And worse, Nigel spotting us?" Kowalski asked as Rico nodded in agreement.

"I need action! I can't just sit around the Zoo all day!" Skipper complained. "We should-"

*ding*

Skipper quickly sprang to his battle stance. What was that all about? It seemed to have come from somewhere near him...

"Show yourself, space squid!" He commanded as his eyes searched his surroundings.

"Relax, Skipper! It's just my new device, which I invented, thank you, sending me a notification in voice-message mode when new vital things come out!"

"Ooh, might come in handy! Tell me, when will Hans strike?"

"Um... It doesn't really work that way... But, I did learn about when the upcoming season of 'Shirtless Ninja Action Theatre' is coming out a few days ago!"

"Just, gimme that." Skipper snatched the device from Kowalski and turned it on. His eyes widened with shock after he heard the voice message.

"No way. Nuh uh. This ain't real, is this...? He would be so devastated..."

"What's wrong? Who's going to be devastated?"

He looked up from the device. "Boys, looks like we do have a mission today after all! A secret mission!"

Kowalski cleared his throat.

"Oh um... Right. Hear for yourselves," he handed the device over to Kowalski and Rico. Kowalski's jaw dropped and Rico gasped.

"Ah, well. I knew this day would come." Kowalski commented.

"We'll bring it back without letting him know! First, we'll have to-"

"Um... Excuse me... Would you mind going back to your habitat? Phil and I have... Things to do," Mason said apologetically.

"Sorry about that, higher mammal." Skipper said and signalled the boys to come with him.

"Hey, champ!" Nigel waved upon seeing his nephew. "How're ya doin'?"

"Uncle Nigel!" Private exclaimed and hugged him. "Ah! I missed you! I'm doing fine, thank you! You?"

"I'm doing alright as well, but we have urgent matters. Come with me." Nigel said giddily as he headed outside of the station and to an empty alley.

"What urgent matters?" Private tilted his head as he caught up with his uncle.

"Our base has been broken into." He turned to Private, with his expression and tone changing into much more serious ones in a few mere seconds. The younger gasped, "What? I thought the security guards were-"

"Knocked out, by a trespasser in a disguise. We caught him trying to steal files of the Red Squirrel and he threw tranquiliser darts at us! All those hit still haven't woken up yet! Most importantly, during interrogation, he told me that he knew you." Nigel crossed his flippers, eyes boring into his nephew's. "Now, Private, why would you associate with trespassers? There must be an explanation for this!"

"But Uncle Nigel... I... How did he- Who's he?"

"He said his name was 'Rocket', but I doubt that."

Private furrowed his brows. "Roc...ket... His name sounds familiar someh-"

"Private!"

"What?! I don't even know anyone named Rocket! That name sounds familiar that's all! Look! I can prove it to you that I'm not his partner in crime! Why would he want to steal those files anyway?"

"That's not the point, lad. I must bring you back to the base-"

"But Uncle Nigel! Don't you trust me?" Private looked at Nigel, tears forming. Nigel's expression softened. "Of course I do! You didn't let me finish! I wanted to say, 'To the base, so that I can let you question Rocket, and let you figure out why he wants those files!"

He couldn't believe it. His uncle trusted him completely to take care of his prisoner. He wasn't sure how to feel about this, but he was glad that his uncle didn't decide to lock him in a cell.

"T-Thank you," he grinned at the superior as he hugged him.

"Now, let's set off! Follow me," the older instructed.

Hello guys! I know. I have written something in my profile which concerns my writing schedule but I... Uh... Will change that statement. I need to write. Exams will not stop me from my passion XD Thank you for reading :D